Super Bowl XLIX Halftime Post

Score: NE 14 SEA 14

Alright welcome in to the special halftime post for Super Bowl XLIX between the Patriots and the defending champion Seahawks where it's all tied up at 14 a piece.

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NE: Julian Edelman, 3 receptions, 41 yards, 1 rush, 7 yards. I said in my preview, the only thing that could hurt Seattle’s secondary is New England’s small, yet swift receivers like a Julian Edelman. That prediction is coming true. Sure Brady passed to LaFell and Gronk for the TDs, but Edelman has done most of his damage in the Patriots’ quick passing game to set up most of those TDs and he got a nice gain off a receiver sweep. So far, the Seahawks have no answer to figure out Edelman and the Patriots’ spread offense.

NE: Shane Vereen, 1 rush, 1 yard, 7 receptions, 42 yards. LeGarrette Blount may be doing most of the damage in the running game, but when the Patriots are looking to the screen game, they go to Shane Vereen for that. They have done that for the most part of the game, especially when Seattle’s pass rush is clamping down the pocket. Luckily for Brady’s quick release, he’s able to find Vereen in most cases and he’s able to field decent gains, especially during 3rd down.

SEA: Chris Matthews, 2 reception, 55 yards, 1 TD. First off, you guys are going to ask, “who?” This is the same Chris Matthews that fielded an onside kick to set up a game tying rushing TD by Lynch against the Packers in NFC Championship game. He’s started to come on in these few games. The Seahawks are known to pick up these no-name or undrafted players and in games like these, they answer the call. Chris Matthews is doing exactly that. Seattle’s offense couldn’t get anything, until Wilson hit a long ball to Matthews to set up the Lynch TD and another TD before time expired in the first half.

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SEA: Offense, before Wilson hit that ball to Matthews, the Seahawks’ offense couldn’t get anything. Credit to the Patriots’ defense, they were winning the one-on-one press coverage, not giving Seattle’s receivers any space to get open and they have managed to get Wilson to scramble. Chandler Jones managed to get a hand on him and Revis got a hand on him. Seattle’s O-line’s got to do a better job in pass protection, especially when Wilson’s pocket collapse, there has to be that extra blocker for him to extend the play a little more.

Bottom Line


The Seahawks get the ball to start in the 2nd half after deferring. They have to ride Chris Matthews while he’s hot because that’s the only the offense can get anything big. That plus running the ball with Beast Mode and trying to get Doug Baldwin or Jermaine Kearse going should get the Seahawks’ offense to stride. For the Patriots, they have to continue to wear down Seattle’s defense with the short throws, slants, crossing routes, screen passes to give the #1 defense a tough time and once opportunity arises, start giving the ball to Rob Gronkowski. Let’s see what happens in the 2nd half.